What is Taijutsu? Taijutsu (体術, literally “body technique” or “body skill”) is a Japanese blanket term for any combat skill, technique, or system of martial art using body movements that are described as an empty-hand combat skill or system. In other simpler words, Taijutsu is martial art technique without weapons. Taijutsu is a synonym for …
Category Archives: Aikido Theory
Is Aikido a ‘Weapons Art’?
If Aikido Works Like a Sword, Then is it a ‘Weapons Art’? A ‘Weapons Art’ uses a weapon or weapons (Eg Sword, Staff, Shinai, Etc) in martial practice. Popular examples are Arnis (Filipino Martial Art) and Kendo (Japanese Martial Art of Fencing). Aikido is based on the arts of the sword and staff. So is it …
Shiho Nage
Shiho Nage: Throw Towards the Four Corners Shiho Nage (also spelt as shihonage) means throw to the four corners or four directions. Shihonage is an Aikido Nage Waza (Aikido throwing technique), that trains the Aikidoka to throw firstly to four directions, and secondly, throw to any direction. Remember, Shiho Nage teaches you how to throw …
Kokyu Nage
Kokyu Nage: Throw With the Power of Your Breath Kokyu Nage (or kokyunage) literally means ‘breath power throw’. The kokyu form is an extended yet ‘curved like a sword’ arm. The Kokyu Nage throw has a ‘flicking feel’ on the throw. During the Zanshin part of Kokyu Nage or Kokyu Ho, the eyes are looking …
Irimi Nage
Irimi Nage: Enter and Throw Irimi Nage is one of the most fundamental yet unique Aikido techniques. Irimi Nage or Iriminage literally means enter and throw. In Iwama Aikido, Irimi Nage can be seen as a triangular or circular technique. In Aikikai (Aiki Kai), Irimi Nage is mostly circular. Irimi requires courage to train and …
Tanren Uchi Exercise
Tanren: 7 Points To Consider When Training Tanren in Japanese means to forge or hammered into strength, like a new sword getting shaped on an anvil. The first time I saw an Aikido Tanren was at Mic Marelli Sensei’s ‘Aiki Kunren (Shuren) Dojo’ on the North Shore of Sydney. It was made up of a …
Bokken: The Humble Stick
You Too Can Have a Good Aikido Bokken Even Though You are Just Starting A Bokken is a wooden sword that the Aikidoka and other Japanese Martial Artists use to learn the art of the sword. The Aikidoka uses the bokken (wooden sword) for training because it’s safer than practising on a live razor-sharp katana. …
Bushido Aikido Mind
The Aikido Mind of the Modern Samurai The Aikido Mind came from the five Spirits of Budo ‘The Way of The Warrior’. When one adds the spirit and mindset to the way of the warrior, we now have ‘Bushido’ – The Way of the Warrior’s Mind and Spirit. Bushido is the software that gives elegance …
Osae Waza
Aikido Osae Waza Osae Waza: Control or Pinning Techniques Osae Waza comes from the Japanese word Osaeru (抑える) which means ‘to control, suppress, or control’. ‘Osae Waza’ means suppressing, pinning, or controlling techniques. The purpose of Osae Waza is to suppress or control an attack or aggression. Osae Waza is usually learned from Suwariwaza ‘sitting …
Five Things I Wish I Knew About Aikido
Five Things I Wish I Knew About Aikido Before I Started I officially started Aikido in 1991, after dabbling with it for three to four years in my tweens. In hindsight, I would’ve probably would’ve done things differently to fast-tracked my learning. Here are seven things I wish I knew about Aikido before I started. …